Onboard Sound

Sound Card

Onboard sound should be adequate for most users. Most motherboards these days come with audio support that is far superior to older motherboards, and even some older-generation dedicated sound cards. Many even include surround sound!

If you are not sure if you need an upgrade, be sure to contact our sales consultants at sales@pugetsystems.com. They will be happy to help you find the right sound card for your specific needs.

Jon Bach (President) Says:I've found onboard sound to be perfectly fine for most people. High end gaming or high quality music could benefit from a quality sound card, though.

Wilson Chau (Customer Service Lead) Says:I've never had a problem using onboard sound though I'm not an audiophile. I honestly couldn't tell the difference between onboard sound and some of the higher end cards. Keep in mind too that the speakers you get also make a difference. There's no point in getting a high end sound card and then getting $10 speakers!

William George (Customer Service) Says:If you want to know what the onboard audio capabilities are of the motherboard you are looking at, scroll up on the configure page and click on the link to the motherboard. It will provide details like number of supported output channels, digital audio capabilities, etc.

Christopher Crader (Customer Support) Says:Onboard sound should work fine for most folks, but if you have especially sensitive speakers or headphones, particularly higher end ones (think $500+), I'd recommend getting a sound card or a USB DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter).

Specifications:

Specifications

Slot Type

Onboard

Channel Output

Varies Channels

Analog Input

Varies

Digital Output

Varies

Digital Input

Varies

Front-panel Connection

Varies

EAX Support

Varies

Most modern motherboards come with a sound controller built in. The newer motherboards even have controllers that are comparable to some of these sound cards. Refer to the motherboard you selected for more information about the onboard sound.